An historical journey

Mar 12, 2006

Early European settlement in the area now known as the Gold Coast displaced many Aborigines
from the traditional country. Among the Aborigines that remained on the
Gold Coast several became well known to the European community and are
recorded in historical documents. It is sometimes difficult to
determine the specific region that was the traditional country of
people featured in many of the early historical documents, due to the
movement of individuals and family. Extensive research has enabled some
very detailed accounts of the lives of a few of the Aborigines that
lived in the Gold Coast region over 100 years ago.

Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s the traditional
Aboriginal people of the region had to adapt to many changes. Their
freedom was at the mercy of government officials who would have
preferred that no Aborigines lived near European settlement. Employment
was a crucial factor that enabled many Aborigines to survive in their
traditional lands. Often it was only those who could prove themselves
to be of some value as labour for European industries that were allowed
to stay.

Several Aboriginal families found employment, sent their children
to schools, became Christians and established houses. Yet they still
lived with the fear of having their children taken from them and placed
under the control of government officials. Aboriginal people had to
adapt to the changes that were happening around them to keep their
families together and to survive in their traditional lands.

Aborigines have played an important role in the establishment of
rural industries such as the timber and pastoral industries, some
became established as fishermen and in the oyster industry and others
worked in the domestic service and the tourism industry. Many
Aboriginal people have contributed to the development of the Gold Coast
by working in the sand-mining, dredging, earthmoving, building and many
other industries.

A recent census stated that over 3,600 Aborigines live on the Gold
Coast. Many of these are descendants of the traditional Aboriginal
people of the region, while many others have moved to the Gold Coast
from other regions throughout Australia. Ongoing work is being carried
out by the local Aboriginal community to document their history and
culture and share it with others.